How to raise bromine level in a pool

Bromine is one of the common sanitizing and oxidizing chemical substances used in a pool to keep the water safe from bacteria and germs.

But to maintain accurate bromine level is important if you want clear and safe water in the pool by destroying bacteria, protozoa, algae and other harmful contentments.

So, are you confused about the bromine level of your pool or in your pool the bromine level is too low and you want to raise it then it’s a common question which will wander in your head is,

How to raise bromine level in a pool?

Or, what should the bromine level be in a pool?

If you want to increase the bromine level in your pool then the pH level should be in the desired range and a shock treatment can be an effective option in this regard.

You can raise the bromine level by 3 to 5 parts per million but you have to maintain it properly to ensure crystal clear water in the pool which will be safe for swimmers throughout the year.

So let’s just hop into the article to have a better overview in this regard.

Table of Contents

What should the bromine level be in a pool

You may still be confused about what bromine does in a pool?

Bromine is an Sanitizing agent in the pool that will ensure a clean and safe pool where you will swim. So adding an accurate amount of sanitizing agent is important.

Chlorine is the most commonly used sanitizing agent for pools but in recent years bromine has gained much fame to serve the purpose of sanitizing particularly in indoor pools.

Bromine can be an alternative to chlorine as both of them are halogen and they have so many similarities but still we can find notable differences between them.

The ideal range for bromine in the pool is 3-5 ppm which is similar to the amount of chlorine. If you add less or more than the required amount then it will not serve the purpose of sanitizing properly.

There are so many advantages of bromine. Bromine is gentler to human skin, doesn’t cause irritation and doesn’t have a strong smell.

It is more suitable for indoor pools and spas than outdoor because it is susceptible to sunlight which means it burns out rapidly in the presence of sunlight.

How to raise bromine level in a swimming pool

What should the bromine level be in a pool

If you want to serve the purpose of sanitizing for both chlorine and bromine then to maintain proper level plays the most vital role.

In terms of bromine, if you add more bromine solution than the required amount in your pool then it will cause irritation and will create a risky situation for humans if they swim in the pool.

Even adding less than the required amount will not ensure a thorough cleaning by eliminating bacteria, algae and other germs.

If you want to raise the bromine level then after maintaining the desired range of pH level a good shock treatment will make sure to renew the bromine level.

You need a test strip, brominating tablets and floating dispenser to raise the bromine level.

You have to submerger the test strip 6 inches below the water of your pool, then you have to add 1 bromine tablet for 100 gal in the floating dispenser to maintain the desired range of 2-6 ppm. You have to turn on the air blower or filter system and then let the water circulate for 20 minutes.

A table below shows how much bromine should be added in the popular size pool to raise the level. From here you will get an overall idea to add bromine in your pool.

Popular pool size	Water containing capacity in gallons	Amount of bromine to raise the level
28 ft. Rnd	18502	31 bromine tablets
30 ft. Rnd	21240	36 bromine tablets
15 ft x24 ft Oval	8000	7 bromine tablets

The above table will give you an overall idea about the amount of bromine to raise the level of your pool size.

But to maintain the level after raising it is important if you want to have a clean and safe water pool so to maintain the bromine level in your pool you can use a floating bromine dispenser or automatic bromine feeder.

Even stabilizer can be added in this regard also to serve the purpose of maintaining the level of bromine.

You have to not only add a shock weekly in your pool but also when it is thoroughly used or after rainfall then you can ensure clean and safe water in your pool throughout the year.

But you have to be careful about the fact that after shocking your pool you have to wait more than 8 hours by keeping the pool uncovered before you swim in the pool or else hazardous fumes may come out from the shock chemicals which will be confined in the pool if it is covered.

What if bromine level is too low in pool

We are using bromine in a pool to eliminate germs, bacteria, algae and other microorganisms to ensure a healthy and safe pool for a swimmer.

Maintaining proper balance of all the chemical components comes first in terms of pool care. In case of bromine if you add less than the required amount then it will ensure partial cleaning.

As bromine kills germs so if the bromine level is low then the swimmers of your pool will not get safe and clean water rather germs will exist in the pool so they will be in a hazardous situation. So the level of the bromine should be raised.

Therefore the level of bromine in a pool should be accurate or else the swimmers will be in a risky position if the level of bromine is low or high.

How to raise bromine level in saltwater pool

We have tried to give you an idea about how to raise the bromine level in a pool but if your pool contains saltwater then your matter of concern is how to raise bromine level there.

We are here to clarify this answer as well. But we are sorry to let you know that you cannot add bromine to your saltwater containing pool.

Salt water generator can be used by the owner of a saltwater pool and it produces chlorine from salt by breaking the chemical components of salt and then the chlorine sanitizes the water.

Now you may think about how a salt generator makes chlorine. Click here to know the answer.

The amount of chlorine produced from salt by the water generator is enough to serve the sanitizing purpose of the pool to ensure clean and safe water. It is not required to add chlorine externally in a saltwater pool.

You cannot mix bromine here as the pool water already contains chlorine so if you add bromine externally then by the mixture of both components it will be hazardous for humans.

You want to add bromine for the purpose of sanitizing but in a salt water pool you do not need to apply any sanitizing agent externally as the chlorine of the salt is enough to serve the purpose.

But you may think about adding bromine in order to clear up cloudy water in your pool but the chlorine generated by salt water generators is enough to solve this issue.

Sometimes you may need to add shock to solve the problem of cloudy water which will be done by chlorine obviously.

Therefore it’s a big no if you want to add bromine to your salt water pool.

What do you do if bromine is high in the pool

We have talked so much about raising the bromine level but one question may come to your head: what if the bromine level is already high in the pool? or is high bromine in the pool dangerous?

As pool water requires regular sanitation and bromine serves the purpose of sanitation by killing germs and other harmful contaminants.

In terms of everything nothing too high or low is good so in case of bromine level in the pool if it is too high or low then the actual amount then it creates a perilous situation.

But if the bromine level is too high which is not expected then we have to drop the level by different means. Then the question is how to lower bromine in the pool?

If any floating dispenser or bromine feeder is connected then you have to disconnect or shut off it from the pool. You have to stop using bromine applications in the pool for sometime to neutralize the level gradually and thus the excess bromine will disappear.

You can backwash the filter system of your pool. Also you can dilute the concentration of bromine level in your pool by filling it with more water and draining your pool.

You can outgas the water to lower the concentration level of bromine in the pool and you can add sodium thiosulfate to neutralize the effect of bromine.

So to maintain the level of bromine you have to test the level of your pool on a regular basis and do not mix more than one sanitizing agent together.

Conclusion:

Bromine is used in pools for killing germs and other harmful contaminants. But maintaining proper level plays a significant role to ensure proper cleaning.

We have not only tried to give you the answer to your question about how to raise bromine level in a pool but also we have mentioned all other relevant issues in this regard.

If you are an owner of a pool then you should know all the mentioned issues in order to ensure a clean and safe pool for your swimmer which will not create any hazardous situation.

In a nutshell, keep your pool sanitized properly with accurate bromine level in the pool to ensure safe swimming for your swimmers.